Facilities & Tools

Impedance Spectrum Measurement System

Impedance spectrum measurement system, Labview program was developed to communicate with a HP 4276 LCZ Meter (from Prof. Lawrence Hmurcik) through a GPIB cable (Figure 1) and an impedance spectrum can be obtained through this system. In the study of a fuel cell, the overvoltages (voltage losses) can be estimated through the analysis of the impedance spectra as shown in Figure 2

Fuel Cell Testing System

Fuel Cell testing system, a fuel cell testing system was set up with a Labview program, a miniLab 1008 DAQ board, and a PC (see Figure 3). In addition, a heating tape, a transformer, a thermocouple, and a relay are used to control the temperature of a fuel cell. Therefore, the voltage-current and power-current curves (see Figures 4 and 5) can be measured.

Figure 3. Fuel cell testing system

Figure 4. The voltage-current curves at 230C (left) and 650C (right)

Figure 5 the power-current curves at 230C and 650C

Potentiostat System

Potentiostat system, a Pine WaveNow Potentiostat is used to acquiring qualitative information about electrochemical reactions (see Figure 6). Cyclic voltammetry is the main method through this system to study the thermodynamics of redox processes and the kinetics of heterogeneous electron-transfer reactions.

Figure 6 potentiostat system

Surface Characterization System

Surface characterization system, a Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) (see Figure 7) was used to analyze the composition of solid surfaces, including the surface of the fuel cell electrode. SIMS is the most sensitive surface analysis technique, being able to detect elements present in the parts per billion range.

Figure 7 Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

In addition, there are one Nikon stereomicroscope (see Figure 8) and one mass selective detector (see Figure 9).